Employability skills workshop

1. Employability skills workshop JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program Presented by LaWanda F. Woods, On-Ramp Coordinator Judy Taylor, Professional Counselor

2. Workshop Objective At the conclusion of this workshop, students will understand the basic skills necessary for getting, keeping and doing well on a job. JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program

3. Employability skills? JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program What Are

4. The Good News! Most job-seekers possess these skills to some extent. JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program

5. The better news!! Job-seekers with weaknesses in these areas can improve their skills through training and personal development. JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program

6. The best news!!! Once you understand the skills and characteristics that most employers seek, you can tailor your job search communications (your resume, cover letter, etc) to showcase how well your background aligns with their requirements. JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program

7. Employability skills are . . . Skills, attitudes and actions that enable workers to get along with their co-workers and supervisors and to make sound, critical decisions. JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program • Can be divided into three categories: • Basic academic skills; • Higher-ordered thinking skills; AND • Personal qualities

8. Essential for high job performance Basic academic skills JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program

9. The ability to think, reason and make sound decisions is crucial for employees desiring to do well and advance. Higher-order thinking skills JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program

10. Each person has the ability to do certain things very well; these are their personal skills. Personal Qualities JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program

11. Skills Employers Demand JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program

12. Most Sought After by Employers Communications Skills This is the one skill mentioned most often by employers – the ability to listen, write and speak effectively. Sample bullet point describing this skill: Exceptional listener and communicator who effectively conveys information verbally and in writing. JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program

13. Most Sought After by Employers Analytical/Research Skills Deals with your ability to assess a situation, seek multiple perspectives, gather more information, if necessary, and identify key issues that need to be addressed. Sample bullet point describing this skill: Highly analytical thinking with demonstrated talent for identifying, scrutinizing, improving, and streamlining complex work processes. JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program

14. Most Sought After by Employers Computer/Technical Literacy Almost all jobs now require some basic understanding of computer hardware and software, especially word processing, spreadsheets and email. Sample bullet point describing this skill: Computer-literate performer with extensive software proficiency covering a wide variety of applications. JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program

15. Most Sought After by Employers Flexibility/Adaptability/Managing Multiple Priorities Deals with your ability manage multiple assignments and tasks, set priorities and adapt to changing conditions and work assignments. Sample bullet point describing this skill: Flexible team player who thrives in environments requiring ability to effectively prioritize and juggle multiple concurrent projects. JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program

16. Most Sought After by Employers Interpersonal Abilities The ability to relate to your co-workers, inspire others to participate, and mitigate conflict with co-workers is essential given the amount of time spent at work each day. Sample bullet point describing this skill: Goal-driven leader who maintains a productive climate and confidently motivates, mobilizes, and coaches employees to meet high performance standards. JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program

17. Most Sought After by Employers Leadership/Management Skills While there is some debate about whether leadership is something people are born with, these skills deal with your ability to take charge and manage your co-workers. Sample bullet point describing this skill: Goal-driven leader who maintains a productive climate and confidently motivates, mobilizes, and coaches employees to meet high performance standards. JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program

18. Most Sought After by Employers Multicultural Sensitivity/Awareness There is possibly no bigger issue in the workplace than diversity, and job seekers must demonstrate a sensitivity and awareness to other people & cultures. Sample bullet point describing this skill: Personable professional whose strengths include cultural sensitivity and an ability to build rapport with a diverse workforce in multicultural settings. JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program

19. Most Sought After by Employers Planning/Organizing Deal with your ability to design, plan, organize and implement projects and tasks within an allotted timeframe. Also involves goal-setting. Sample bullet point describing this skill: Result-driven achiever with exemplary planning and organizational skills, along with a high degree of detail orientation. JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program

20. Most Sought After by Employers Problem-Solving/Reasoning/Creativity Involves the ability to find solutions to problems using your creativity, reasoning, and past experiences along with the available information and resources. Sample bullet point describing this skill: Innovative problem-solver who can generate workable solutions and resolve complaints. JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program

21. Most Sought After by Employers Teamwork Because so many jobs involve working in one or more work-groups, you must have the ability to work with others in a professional manner while attempting to achieve a common goal. Sample bullet point describing this skill: Resourceful team player who excels at building trusting relationships with customers and colleagues. JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program

22. Personal Values JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program Sought After By Employers

23. Honesty ● integrity ● morality Employers probably respect personal integrity more than any other value. • Sample bullet point for resume or cover letter: • Seasoned professional whose honesty and integrity provide for effective leadership and optimal business relationships. JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program

24. Dedication ● hard-working work ethic ● tenacity Employers seek job-seekers who live what they do and will keep at it until they solve the problem or get the job done. • Sample bullet point for your resume or cover letter: • Dependable, responsible contributor with commitment to excellence and success. JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program

25. Adaptability ● flexibility Deals with openness to new ideas and concepts, to working independently or as part of a team, and to carrying out multiple tasks or projects. • Sample bullet point describing this skills: • Highly adaptable risk-taker who is open to new ideas. JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program

26. Loyalty Employers want employees who will have a strong devotion to the company. • Sample bullet point describing this skills: • Loyal and dedicated manager with an excellent work record. JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program

27. Positive Attitude ● Motivation ●Energy ●Passion The job-seekers who get hired and the employees who get promoted are the ones with drive and passion – and who demonstrate this enthusiasm through words and actions. JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program • Sample bullet point describing this skills: • Energetic performer consistently cited for a passion for work, sunny disposition, and upbeat, positive attitude.

28. Professionalism Deals with acting in a responsible and fair manner in all your personal and work activities, which is seen as a sign of maturity and self-confidence; avoid being petty. JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program • Sample bullet point describing this skills: • Conscientious go-getter who is highly organized, dedicated, and committed to professionalism.

29. Self-Confidence Look at it this way: If you don’t believe in yourself, in your unique mix of skills, education, and abilities, why should a prospective employer? Be confident in yourself and what you can offer employers. JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program • Sample bullet point describing this skills: • Confident, hard-working employee who is committed to achieving excellence.

30. Self-Motivated ● Ability to Work With Little or No Supervision While teamwork is always mentioned as an important skills, so is the ability to work independently, with minimal supervision. • Sample bullet point describing this skills: • Highly motivated self-starter who takes initiative with minimal supervision. JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program

31. Willingness to Learn No matter what your age, no matter how much experience you have, you should always be willing to learn a new skill or technique. Jobs are constantly changing and evolving, and you must show an openness to grow and learn with that change. JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program • Sample bullet point describing this skills: • Enthusiastic, knowledge-hungry learner, eager to meet challenges and quickly assimilates new concepts.

32. Transferable Job Skills JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program We ALL have them! Simply put, they are skills you have acquired during any activity in your life -- jobs, classes, projects, parenting, hobbies, sports, virtually anything -- that are transferable and applicable to what you want to do in your next job.

33. Transferable Skills Obtained in the Classroom JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program

34. #1: Ability to Meet Deadlines College is an abundance of deadlines. If meeting deadlines is an important skill in the job you seek, by all means exploit it in your resume and your cover letter. JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program

35. #2: Ability to multiple tasks Remember how you wanted to smack all your instructors for requiring simultaneous major papers and projects? Multi-tasking is increasingly valued in the workplace, and your resume/cover letter gives you the chance to boast of your ability to juggle many projects at once. JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program

36. #3: Ability to achieve goals Your good grades are proof of that skill, so boast about them if they're exemplary. You may have met other goals while in school, too, such as graduating early. Any goal you've met while in school is potential skill/ability to add to your cover-letter and/resume. JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program

37. #4: Ability to adapt Your college years probably gave you your first opportunity to make adult decisions and act independently. How did you handle stumbling blocks and disappointments along the way? The way you rose above difficulties can provide solid examples. JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program

38. #5: Writing skills Jobs that require good writing skills are a lot more common than you probably think they are. If you demonstrated your ability to write well in college, you can highlight that skill. JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program

39. #6: Research skills How many people who've been out in the "real world" have research skills that are as fresh and recent as yours? How many know as much as you do about, say, conducting research on the Internet? Probably not many, so for jobs where this ability may be helpful, be sure to emphasize your research skills. JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program

40. Employability skills & personal values are the critical tools and traits you need to succeed in the workplace – and they are all elements that you can learn, cultivate, develop and maintain. Once you have identified them, remember to document them and market them in your resume, cover letter and INTERVIEWS! JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program FINAL THOUGHT…..

41. MARKETABLE SKILLS VALUES DEGREE /PROGRAM YOUR FRUIT DEGREE /PROGRAM JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program COURSEWORK

42. Q&AAndSign off JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program